The document discusses various conventions for website design and layout. It identifies key elements such as navigation bars, grid systems, and centering main content. It also notes the importance of images, interactive elements, and ensuring content and design match the target genre and audience. Technical considerations include things like downloadable audio/video depending on the site topic. Overall the conventions aim to create an easy to use, visually appealing site tailored to its purpose.

1. Website generic
conventions
Zoe Toase

2. Layout and Design
• Usability: Easy to use site with clear areas for navigation such
as a navigation bar that links to separate pages. Needs to be
clear, logical and straight to the point.
• Grid system: A grid system is used to separate sections of a
website and present the information in small, easy to access
segments.
• Centre of Site: Usually used for the main content with
navigation tools to different articles located on the left or right
of the page.
• Background and font colour: Used to separate different
sections of information
• Images: used to illustrate as much as possible to add visual
interest

3. Technical codes
• Most websites have moving images or audio content.
• Something that includes audience interactivity to evoke
interest or integration.
• Technical content that is provided depends on what the
website is featuring for instance a music article would
have downloadable music/videos or downloadable
content.
• Regional based websites often provide areas for the
audience to comment and interact with each other on
stories.

4. Content
• Websites with factual information may look different
compared to a site for entertainment. There are different
titles on different sites depending on what the genre is.
• Websites with different audiences and different purposes
differ in content and appeal.
• There are distinct conventions in terms of news, film or
fashion websites.

5. Genre
• Websites are based on their genre and target audience.
E.g. a news website will be set out in a tabloid structure.
• The web design uses recognisable codes and conventions
to ensure that the audience recognise the genre.

6. Heading and Banner
• Located across the top of a website is usually a header.
This includes the masthead of the page which will be the
company/brand name for instance THE CRACK or
SPARK. The banner can also include features such as a
logo, navigation links, a strapline, radio feature, contact
details or an image. The banner is usually the entire width
of the site and is a contrasting colour to the main site
background so that it stands out better.

7. Navigation bar/menu
• Located at the top of the page. It can either open up a list
like format or each link can be presented on the home
page. A navigation bar directs the reader to different
pages within the site. This makes the website a lot more
organised and easy to use. Users can find specific
information and specific topics a lot easier.

8. Images
• Websites have great emphasise on visuals and therefore
are very image led. Often images are presented in a pin-
board like style, sliding gallery or list format. They look
very organised and professional. All the images are of
high quality and vary from illustrations or photographs
depending on what the genre of the site is.

9. Typography
• Relates to the brand. Unique font is used for the masthead
and headlines of the pages so that the brand is original.
Often articles or detailed information have quite a simply
and plain font in 11 point aerial. This is so the
information can be read easily and therefore the site is
more user friendly.

10. Advertisements
• Lots of sites have advertisement boxes. These are usually
located at the bottom of the page or down one of the
sides. Advertisements are based on the users previous
search history and therefore are specifically designed to
appeal to them. They are also genre related and content
related so a fashion website for example will have
advertisements for clothing stores.

11. Contact details and
behind the scenes
• There is almost always a section dedicated to the context
behind the company. This can include the phone number,
address, publication company, editors, photographers and
writers etc.

12. Evaluation of conventions
• As a website can have so much variation and solely
depends on the genre and content, I feel I can adapt all of
the conventions to my own style. The conventions I have
researched have a lot of opportunity for variation yet are
all vital for a successful website. Having analysed this, I
have decided to include all of the conventions but to
present them in my own unique way.